(c) 2006 Dan Lockshaw. All rights
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This
is a red phase Whiskered-Screech Owl. We will certainly go back here
to get better photos in the future. This owl was in the forests above
Barranca Rancho Libre off the Durango Highway (north-western Mexico
in the mountains east of Mazatlan). We have found these on multiple
trips into this area. It appears that about half of the owls of this
species are red phase in this area. An Interesting point is that none
of the birding groups that we have come upon in this area have been
aware of this color phase being here. Neet Owl, quite common in this
area, and apparently not widely known that they exist here.